Who are AnesthesiologistAssistants?The answer to this question will soon be common knowledge as medical schools race to openAnesthesiologist Assistant programs and Hospitals throughout the United States begin recruiting anesthesiologist assistants

nesthesiologist Assistants are highly skilled, Knowledgeable, Master degree earning members of the anesthesia care team who with their impeccable safety records work side by side with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist's ( CRNA's). The Anesthesiologist Assistant functions as a specialty physician assistant under the direction of a licensed Anesthesiologist. The Anesthesiologist Assistant's responsibilities, in the hospital setting are identical to the CRNA. The Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine approved the first Anesthesiologist Assistant license in Florida at their recent meeting, held March 31, 2005. The 2004 Legislature passed senate bill 626 and was signed by Governor Bush in June 2004. The bill creates the licensing of Anesthesiologist Assistants in Florida. Florida is considered a key state in regards to the licensing of Anesthesiologist Assistants throughout the country. Due to this recent approval from the boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine the doors are now wide open for the remaining US states to follow suit.

How safe are Anesthesiologist Assistants compared to CRNA's? A four year study in Cleveland, Ohio's University Hospitals comparing Anesthesiologist Assistants and CRNA's safety records showed that the two professions were virtually identical. The Medical Center conducted the research study over four years (1999-2003) and studied more than 46,000 cases involving Anesthesiologist Assistants and CRNA's (23,0000 cases each). They concluded by stating, "Complication rates were no higher for Anesthesiologist Assistants than CRNAs."

As of now there are six schools which offer the Anesthesiologist Assistant program. The newest University to offer the AA profession is the Nova Southeastern UniversityTampa Student Educational Center in Florida. The second newest AA program isUniversity of Missouri, Kansas City, with its first class in 2008. Currently educational facilities throughout the United States are racing to begin their programs. The four educational programs which are currently graduating Anesthesiologist Assistant's are:Nova Southeastern Universityin Davie, FloridaEmory University inAtlanta Georgia; South University in Savannah, Georgia andCase Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

What procedures are Anesthesiologist Assistants most likely to perform?Anesthesiologist Assistants also known as Anesthesia Assistants (AA's) are commonly employed in facilities that perform procedures such as neurosurgery, transplant surgery, cardiac surgery and trauma care and more.

The text below is only to be used as a suggested guideline for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (by University of Texas) - Read Texas AA Press Release

1. Suggested Qualifications of an Anesthesiologist Assistant also known as (Anesthesia Assistant). The delegating physician should require that the Anesthesiologist Assistant (Anesthesia Assistant) provide evidence, satisfactory to the physician, of his/her qualifications, including but not limited to the following:

A. Successful completion of a training program accredited by the Committee onAccreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), its predecessoragency (CAHEA), or successor agencies.

B. Successful completion of 60 semester hours of college courses, other than the above referenced training program, which courses would be acceptable, at the time of completion, for credit on a bachelor of arts degree or a bachelor ofscience degree.

C. Successful passage within three (3) attempts of the National CertifyingExamination for Anesthesiologist Assistants as administered by the NationalCommission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) or itssuccessor agencies.

D. Successful and current completion of the Advanced Cardiac Life Supportprogram as administered by the American Heart Association or its successororganizations.

2. Functions and Duties of an Anesthesiologist Assistant/Anesthesia Assistant:

A. Individuals who meet the definition of an Anesthesiologist Assistant under Section(1) above may engage in the following functions and duties delegated to them byproperly qualified supervising anesthesiologists.

B. There shall be at all times a direct, continual and close supervisory relationshipbetween the Anesthesia Assistant and the supervising anesthesiologist. Thesupervising anesthesiologist shall, at all times, be responsible for the activities ofthe Anesthesiologist Assistant.

C. A written job description, signed by the Anesthesiologist Assistant andsupervising anesthesiologist(s) must exist which delineates the medical tasks and services, which the Anesthesia Assistant may provide. Within the framework of the written job description, the Anesthesia Assistant may engage inthe following functions and duties:

1. The Anesthesiologist Assistant shall provide delegated medical services withinthe education, training, and experience of the Anesthesia Assistant. Theseservices may include perioperative patient evaluations as well as delegatedteaching and research functions.

2. The Anesthesiologist Assistant may administer anesthesia under the directsupervision of a qualified anesthesiologist.

3. The Anesthesiologist Assistant/Anesthesia Assistant performs initial CPR/ACLS in life threatening situations as directed by a physician or protocol until the supervising anesthesiologist arrives.

4. The Anesthesia Assistant initiates multi-parameter monitoring prior to anesthesia or in other acute care settings. Modalities include, but are not limited to, ASA Standard Monitor arterial and venous catheters. The Anesthesia Assistant may manipulate and interpret data from central venous, pulmonary artery and intracranial catheters and other monitors devices that are indicated. TheAnesthesiologist Assistant administers the prescribed anesthetic with particular attention to the cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic health of the patient. The Anesthesiologist Assistant may administer drugs commonly used in anesthetic practice by protocol or as directed by the supervising anesthesiologist.

5. The Anesthesiologist Assistant/Anesthesia Assistant may utilize advanced treatment modalities to effect the prescribed anesthetic plan; these may include but are not limited to advanced airway interventions, including intubation of the trachea; starting and adjusting vasoactive infusions, administering vasoactive and anesthetic drugs, administering blood and any other treatment modalitiesprescribed by the supervising anesthesiologist and within the training and expertise of the Anesthesia Assistant.

6. An Anesthesiologist Assistant is prohibited from performing medical services, procedures, functions or activities, which are not specifically listed in the Anesthesiologist Assistant's job description.

3. Prohibited Activities and Functions for an Anesthesiologist Assistant/Anesthesia Assistant:

A. Any medical service, procedure, activity or function not specifically enumerated in the written and signed job description is prohibited.

1. hold a current, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the State;2. be engaged full time in the medical specialty of anesthesiology; and3. be certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists in anesthesiology.

B. Supervision of Anesthesiologist Assistants by Non-Anesthesiologist Individuals not meeting the criteria stated in Section 4(A) are prohibited from supervising or delegating tasks to Anesthesiologists Assistants.

C. Patient Choice

1. Except under emergency circumstances, the supervising anesthesiologist is responsible for informing patients that they will receive anesthesiology care in the team mode, which includes the use of Anesthesiologist Assistants, and that the physician may not be present in the operating room at all times but must be present in the operating suite.

2. If the patient so wishes after having been informed of the use of Anesthesiologist Assistants, the supervising anesthesiologist(s) shall offer a personally administered anesthetic by a physician or referral.

D. Supervisory Ratios

1. Except under emergency circumstances, the supervising anesthesiologist may not concurrently direct more than four anesthesia services or simultaneously supervise more than a combination of four (4) certified registered nurse anesthetists, Anesthesiologist Assistants, or anesthesiology residents.

5. Responsibility for Compliance with Recommendations Anesthesiologist Assistants (Anaesthetic assistant) have no legal standing outside the general provisions of their State's Medical Practice Act dealing with delegation of duties. As such, the primary responsibility for maintaining the standards set forth in this document will lay with the supervising anesthesiologists and the credentialing committees in the involved facilities. While the Board has no formal mechanism to monitor Anesthesiologist Assistant practice at this time, reports of deviations from these recommendations may be investigated, at the Board's discretion, as violations of the appropriate sections of the State's Medical Practice Act. The supervising physicians remain ultimately and completely liable for all acts of the Anesthesiologist Assistants, which may lead to disciplinary action.

How do Anesthesiologist Assistants and CRNA's compare as members of the Anesthesia Care Team? The Anesthesiologist Assistant and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist have virtually the same responsibilities and salary. The Anesthesiologist assistant and CRNA side by side comparison can be viewed at www.asahq.org. ( Note that the Anesthesiologist Assistant profession is currently evolving and the viewable chart may obtain information that is out dated.)